Farmers of Nimazor village in Tsirang’s Rangthangling Gewog now grow ginger as their main source of livelihood. Most households in the village turned to large-scale ginger cultivation after citrus greening destroyed their orange orchard, which was once their primary source of income. Although a good alternative, marketing the rhizome is a challenge for the farmers. It is harvest season but Nimazor’s ginger growers have left the rhizome in the ground waiting to harvest only when they can fetch better prices.
Beneath what may seem like barren land are matured gingers ready for harvest. Farmers will harvest the crop only when they meet buyers willing to pay them their expected prices.
Until then, the rhizomes are left in the ground to preserve freshness and maintain quality.
Nar Bdr. Dahal, a farmer said “We earn around Nu 200,000 annually by selling 15 to 30 quintals of ginger when we sell it at Nu 100 per kilogramme. That earning is enough to keep the household running for a year. And that is how many of us here ginger farming started. Now, everyone is growing the spice.”
Hema Devi Dahal, another farmer said “We used to earn good income from orange orchards in the past. But due to excessive heat, orange trees dried up over the years and we switched to ginger farming. The income from ginger helps us to cover school expenses for our children.”
However, farmers say, ginger prices fluctuate frequently, often forcing them to delay harvest. They sell ginger to local dealers. Around this time last year, they fetched up to Nu 200 for a kilogramme of ginger. But this year, they are fetching only up to Nu 100 per kilogramme.
Likewise, Ugyen Jigme said “Ginger farming is labour-intensive but it pays off with good harvest. The challenge is in marketing, as we don’t get the expected prices. That is why we leave ginger unharvested in the fields until prices improve.”
With all 19 households in Nimazor growing ginger, the village is expected to produce around 10 metric tonnes of the rhizome this year. While some farmers have yet to harvest, many have already cultivated ginger for the next season.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Phub Gyem
